The Extra Wants To Live

What can't you do to survive?"

"That's right. Okay, now that you have some free time, why don't you take a look at other things too?"

"Something else?"

"Even if you don't have a territory, aren't you already the Grand Duke of Morgan? You should get married."

"My older brother is over 20 years old and can't even get married. How can I, his younger brother, go first?"

"I…. No, what… ."

Nero tried to tease Carl, but he couldn't find the answer and mumbled. He was still unsure, and he couldn't afford to get married and do something that would only increase his weaknesses.

"Go and entertain your mother with some tricks, little gentleman."

"That cheeky mama's boy."

Nero roughly ruffles Carl's hair, and Carl slaps his hand away. The two brothers looked at each other, burst into laughter, and soon walked past each other.

"Be careful, Carl."

"Of course brother."

Carl responded to Nero's words as he walked away, smiling brightly and walking briskly. It's been a year since he's seen Lilly.

He has to leave for another expedition tomorrow, but he feels great.

The shadow cast by the fluttering cloak follows Carl, rippling blackly. It hesitated and wavered as it overlapped with other shadows, but it did not move away, and eventually followed Carl into the room.

Bam!

"Lilly!"

"Carl…!"

Carl opened the door forcefully and called Lilly, and Lilly, dressed in the clothes and accessories Carl gave her as a gift, ran towards him with a big smile, but then stopped.

But Carl didn't stop. He walked over to Lilly and hugged her tightly.

"It's been a year."

As Carl hugged her and murmured happily, Lilly realized that this sturdy young man was the child she had raised and cared for.

"… Yes, Carl…"

Lilly spoke in a wet voice, patting and brushing Carl's back. Although he couldn't even feel it because of the armor, Carl felt as if he was wrapped in a soft and fluffy blanket.

"You've grown up so well."

"It's still growing."

"I wanted to watch you grow up, from the side… … ."

"I'm sorry. I'm a little… busy… ."

Carl, who had grown so much that there was still plenty of room in his arms even though he was holding Lilly, slowly rocked his body while holding her and muttered an excuse.

"You look skinny. Are you eating well?"

"I'm eating well. Oh, more than that."

Carl grinned as he let Lilly out of his arms. Lilly looked up at Carl, wiping her tear-stained eyes.

"It's a gift."

Carl took a long, flat wooden box out of a pouch at his waist. It looked like a box containing a necklace.

"Master Carl, I have so many trinkets that I can't carry them all. Your gifts are enough… … ."

"Open it quickly. Quickly."

Although Lilly seemed troubled and tried to persuade him, Carl only urged her on. Lilly took the box with a small sigh and opened it hesitantly.

"… … ."

"Isn't it pretty?"

Lilly looked into the box with wide eyes. Inside the box was a decoration of colorful dried flowers placed in a flat glass plate.

"There's still some time left until the flowers bloom, so I wanted to enjoy them without getting bored until then."

"…thank you…."

Lilly, with many tears, laughed loudly. Carl smiled brightly and hugged Lilly carefully. If he hugged Lilly too tightly while wearing armor, she would get hurt.

"I was trying to choose a gift, but Harmon said it would be better to choose something other than jewelry. I asked the soldiers and chose something."

"I really… I will really treasure it."

"It worries me to see you crying so much, but I feel pretty good."

"really...."

Seeing Lilly cry with joy and laugh with delight, Carl giggled like a child. Lilly also burst into laughter at those words. Carl took off his armor with Lilly's help, but Lilly had no experience handling full plate armor, so she struggled for a while. But even that time was quite enjoyable.

As Carl took off his armor, he told Lilly about things that had happened to him that he could share with the tender-hearted Lilly, and Lilly was so absorbed in Carl's story that she kept stopping her hands.

The relationship between mother and son was as beautiful as a fairy tale and seemed to shine. While the mother and son sat and talked, the shadows hidden under the chairs quietly listened to their voices.

***

A day is too short. The day of departure for suppressing the rebellion dawned. It was literally a blink of an eye.

"Don't worry too much, I'll be back at the palace soon."

"Master Carl… You must be careful."

"I won't get hurt."

"But just in case."

Lilly was full of worries. It wasn't because she knew what mission Carl had been given but because she couldn't feel at ease seeing her son go to battle.

"Take this."

Lilly gave the necklace to Carl.

A well-maintained piece of silver staff sparkled. The silver staff is the symbol of Duren.

The most devout followers of Duren, or priests of Duren, carry a silver staff. As Carl began to work in earnest, Lilly prayed for him every day, and naturally, her faith in Duren deepened, leading her to acquire a silver staff necklace.

"hmm."

Carl bowed his head instead of taking it in his hand. Their green eyes met, and Lilly smiled as she placed the necklace around Carl's neck.

"What will Lilly do if you give it to me?"

"You can just get one more. It's a necklace that I made to pray for Carl's safety, so it will definitely protect Carl."

Lilly prayed every morning and evening for the past year without missing a single day. It was a necklace so familiar that it felt like a part of her body, but she didn't mind giving it to Carl at all.

Carl had no religious beliefs. But since Lilly believed in it, he carefully pushed the necklace inside his armor and pounded his chest.

"Thank you. I will keep it in mind."

"Yes, since Lord Duren loves those who work hard, he will definitely be watching over you, Carl."

"Lilly will be watching too, right?"

"I hope so."

The two faced each other, smiled, and hugged affectionately.

"I'll go and come back."

"Yes, be careful."

"I told you not to worry."

"all right."

Carl smiled and waved at Lilly.

Despite his tall stature, handsome appearance, and gleaming armor, Carl's face looked as innocent as a child's.

Lilly came out of the room and saw Carl off, waving back as Carl continued to wave while backing away.

"Master Carl, I am ready."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

The moment Harmon, who had been quietly following along, spoke, Carl's face returned to that of the 'Laurel Planter.'

Who would believe that His Majesty the Grand Duke of Hardion had been waving his hands like a child just a moment ago?

Carl, who was a little late because he was talking to Lilly, walked quickly and thought to himself,

'Lilly... My mother also calls me Carl, but I think we don't need to draw that line anymore.'

Now Carl has immense power.

And many people know that Carl considers Lilly as his mother. Who would say anything if Carl called Lilly 'mother' and Lilly called Carl 'son'?

'When I get back, I'll call you Mother. You'll probably cry a lot. I have to take Milton with me.'

Carl walked forward with pleasant thoughts.

The cloak fluttered pleasantly, and the shadow hidden beneath it followed behind.

It was a mission.

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